Clothes washing machine having tumbler end wall drain



Sept. 30, 1947. V I LEEF 2,428,286

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING TUMBLER END WALL DRAIN Filed May 6, 1946 2 Shets-Shee t l 2 Edy- 1 Sept. 30, 1,947. J. H. LEEF 2,423,236

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVINGITUMBLER END WALL DRAiN I Filed ivla 6, 1946 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 Ega :MOQ 6 000 Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHE S WASHING HAVING TUMBLEREND John. H. Leer. Minne olis, Minna.

ApplicatiomMawB; 1946, Serial No. 667i6'i5 (01. ace-r44) 3 Claims. 1

My invention relates: to washing machines: of the type incorporating a horizontallyedisposed rotary drum in which the clothes, or otheritems tobe washedare agitated, and has foritsobject the provision of; novel-means. for facilitating the removal of the wash or rinse fluids therefrom prior to the, removal of the clothes orthelike.

Another object of my invention is'the provision of means whereby the rotating drum may: be drained of Washing and rinsing fluids while the same is still in motion.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from. the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. I is a side elevational view, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a transversesection taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1; r r

Fig. 3 is an endelevation;

Fig. 415- a viewcorresponding to Fig; 3. showing' .adifferent position in some of the parts-r Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

The drum of this machine is marked with the numeral I and is shown as provided with circumferentially-extended external rail flanges 2 arranged to run on supporting rollers 3 journalled in bearings 4 of a heavy metallic frame '5, which, as shown, rests on a floor or the like '6. Rollers 3 are shown as having opposed circumferential ribs 1 which prevent axial movements of the drum during rotation.

The drum, of course, can be supported and driven in various different ways but, as shown, is provided at one end with a large sprocket 8. A chain 9 runs over sprocket 8 and over a much smaller sprocket II] on a shaft I I journalled in suitable bearings I2 of the frame 5. Shaft II is shown as coupled at l3 to the rotor shaft I4 of an electric motor I5, also mounted on the frame 5 so that the complete machine may be, if desired, mounted as a self-contained unit on a common base.

Shown as secured to the inside peripheral surface of the drum I and projecting radially inwardly therefrom are a plurality of spaced clothes-lifting vanes or ribs I6, which extend substantially the length of the drum I. As shown, ribs I6 contain numerous perforations identified section taken 2: s by' the numeral F602, aremade of sheet metal and are hollow theirentirele ngth.

The peripheral surface of drum I amt the end to which the driving mechanism: is secured are imperforat-e. However; the opposite end of the drum I identified by the numeral llgis provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced openings I8 which communicate-with the interior of the hollow ribs or vanes l6.

On each side of'th'eseveral' openings I 8 and on the outside of endpl'ate- H I providecooperating guideways Ill, shown in Fig. fi-as beingin theforrn of opposed angle irons, welded or otherwise-secured to the en'dplate Hi Slidably mounted in the guideways for radialmovement with respect to the drum I are gates 20.

Referring now'particularly' to Figs. 3, 4 and- 5, it willbe, observedthat a: disc-like plate 2.1 is rotatiably mounted on an annularbos 22 which projects outwardly from the axis of the plate Ili An inlet pipe 23 projects through, the axial opening 24 in the endplate I1. Pipe 231eadsto a source il dtnot. shown. Av retainin co11ar" 5l fits loosely aroundithe. pipe. "13 andiis clamped to. the boss 22 by means of headedbolt's 26; As will be seen, particularly with reference to Fig. 5, retaining collar 25 is of a maximum diameter greater than the minimum diameter of the disc 2I so as to retain the disc against outward axial movements, but at the same time permitting rotary movements thereof.

A plurality of links 2! have their outer ends pivoted to the tarnsverse central portions of gates 20 at 28, and have their inner ends pivoted to the disc 2| adjacent its periphery as indicated at 29. As shOWn by reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 6, disc 2! and gates 20 are provided with an angular operating arm 30 which has its inner end pivoted to one of the pivotal connections 29 as indicated at 3| and has its intermediate portion connected to another of the pivotal connections 29 as indicated at 32. The extreme outer end of the lever 30 preferably extends outwardly of the periphery of the drum in the form of a handle, as indicated at 33. A locking screw 34, carried by the arm 30, is adapted to have threaded engagement with a hole 35 in one of the links '21 to retain the gates 20 in closed position as shown in Fig. 3, and also with a threaded hole 3-6 in a lug 31 on the endplate I! to retain the gates 20 in an open position as shown by Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, drum I is provided with a pair of removable cover plates 38, which are securedby latches 39.

Operation With my novel arrangement, clothes or other articles to be washed are placed in the drum by removing the cover plates 38. Thereafter plates 38 are secured in position. Water or other fluid is introduced into the drum I through a feed pipe 23. Upon rotation of the drum l, the perforate ribs lB continue to lift the clothes or other objects in the drum and drop them into the fluid until they are thoroughly cleaned. At this point it may be desirable to drain off the washing fluids prior to introducing a rinsing fluid. To accomplish this, the drum l is temporarily stopped, the locking screw 34 is loosened, and the operating lever 30 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, at which point the gates 20 will be moved to the position also shown in Fig. 4, through the driving connections including links 21 and the rotatable disc 2|. The operating lever 30 is locked in gateopening position by meansof the screw 34 making engagement with the opening 35 in the lug 31. The drum is once again rotated and the water or other washing fluid is drained from the tank by means of ports 5a in the vanes 16 and out through the openings [8. In this manner it will be obvious that none of the clothes or other objects will interfere with the passage of the water from the drum.

Rinse water may be introduced into the drum through the pipe 23 during rotation of the drum, irrespective of whether the gates are open or closed. I

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely successful for accomplishing the above objects.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention as provided by see. 4888 of the U. S. Statutes, it should beunder'stood that the same is subject to modification without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. 'In a clothes washing machine, a horizontally-disposed rotary washing drum, a hollow'perforate clothes-lifting rib on the inside peripheral 7.;-

'4 surface of said drum and extending substantially the length thereof, an opening in the end of said drumcommunicating with the interior of said hollow rib, generally radially-extending parallel guide channels on each side of said opening, a gate slidably mounted in said guide channels, and lever means on the end of said drum for opening and closing said gate.

2. Ina washing machine, a horizontally-disposed rotary washing drum, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced hollow perforat clotheslifting ribs on the inside peripheral surface of said drum, said ribs extending longitudinally sub stantially the length of said drum, circumferentially-spaced openings in the end of said drum communicating with the interior of said hollow ribs, generally radially-extending parallel guide channels on each side of said openings, a gate slidably mounted in each of said guide channels, and lever means carried by the end of said drum for simultaneously opening and closing said gates.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said lever mechanism comprises a plate axially journalled to the end of said drum, links having their outer ends pivoted to the central portion of said gates and having their inner ends pivoted to said rotary plate, and handle means on said plate facilitating rotation thereof whereby to impart radial movements to said gates.

JOHN H. LEEF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Burton Aug. 13, 1889 

